Door-hanger guide.



0. C. RIXSON.

DOOR HANGER GUIDE. APPLICATION FILED MAILZI, 1911.

Y4 Mm un MW %11 A; atto'cwnas 0. C. RIXSON.

DOOR HANGER GUIDE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1911.

1,234,805. Patented July 31, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIATIIIIIIIVIIII 5 vwewfoz I provide this slight lateral movement of the sir-a Application filed March 21,

To all whbm it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR C. Rrxson, a citizen of'the United States, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of Westchester and State of- New York, have invented oer-1 tain new and useful Improvements in Door Hanger Guides, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to mechanism for slidably mounting a door or other closure, which mechanism consists of a fixed track,

' a movable track from which the door is sus- I pended and anti-friction devices interposed etween the two tracks which permits the movable track and door to be easily displaced.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a construction of this character, in

which slight irregularities or deviations the racewaysfrom a straight path not cause a binding of the anti-friction devices "but will permit them to have suflicient free lateral movement to compensate for such irregularities or inaccuracies. It is also the object of the invention to anti-friction devices. without permitting the movable track which carries the door, fromhaving a bodily lateral movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger for suspending the door from the movable track, which hangerwill permit of its adjustment after the parts have been assembled. l

With these and other "objects in view, the invention consists of the constructions and I combinations, which will behereinafter described,in connection'with the accompany 'ing drawings, and particularly pointed ou in the appended clalms.

= In the drawings,

Figure 1 discloses the improved track I and hanger constructions;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the tracks and associated pa-rts,

showing .the preferred embodiment of the invention; a

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partially in section, of the construction shown'in' Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is'a plan of a section of the spacer utilized in connection with the anti-friction devices; Fig. 5

is a central vertical section through Fig. 4;

. I "Specification of hetters Patent.

' the combined width of both' track is supported by brackets 5 which are extending from the side piece 11.

osoAn c. nrxsoitifloninaw' meme, new YoaK. l

Patented July 31, 1917-. i917. Serial No. 156,260.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the

sliding door is indicated at Land the fixed door at 2. Arranged above these doors is a fixed track 3, which is of a len equal to oors. This secured to the frame or wall above the door,

the track 3 being secured to the brackets 5- by bolts 7 The track 3 is shaped in cross section as shown Fig. 2, and consists of a strip of sheet metal bent to forma flat top portion 10. with depending side pieces 11- and 12, and an angularly disposed strip 13 The lower end of the angularly disposed strip 13 is curved, as shown, to provide a groove or race'14', upon which the balls 15 are adapted to roll. .The curvature of the race 14 corresponds to the curvature of the balls, whereby the balls follow the groove without having any independent lateral movement as they roll along it.

- The movable track, which is of a length corresponding to the width of the sliding door 1, is designated 16. This track, similar to the fixed track 3, is formed from a strip of sheet metal and consists of a vertically disposed flat strip 17 and a hook-shaped upper portion 18, which curves over the lower portion 13 of the fixed track 3 and the balls 15, as shown in Fig. 2. The door which is secured to the movable track, as is hereinafter described, is. therefore positioned with its center of gravity in substantially vertical alinement with the centers of the balls 15. A race for the balls is formed upon the inner surface of the hooked portion 18, which, in the preferred embodiment, is of a different shape at its intermediate portion than at its ends. The intermediate portion of this race, as is shown in cross section in Fig. 2, does not form agrooveof the same prevent them from sliding freely.

other hand, with the construction described,

I lateral movement of the movable track is curvature as the balls, in which the balls must move in a fixed path, but 1s flattened, as at 18, to provide'a race which wlll permit a relative lateral movement of the track and is, of a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the balls, so that the balls and track can have no relative lateral movement.

The advantage of the above described construction will be clear fromthe following: In securing the fixed track to the frame above a door, the track is frequently bent slightly so that the ball race or roove 14 does not provide a perfectly straight path for the balls. Sometimes this deviation of the race from astraight path is due to inaccuracies in workmanship. If then the movable track is also provided with a ball race which closely surrounds the balls, similar to the race 14, the. balls 15 will bind against the sides of the races when the door is moved. This action will cause the movable track and the door to rise and will also On the since the intermediate portion of the movable track has a fiat race 18, the balls may then follow the groove or race 14 in the fixed track, although this race is slightly out of true, and at the same time the balls may have a slight lateral relative movement, with respect to the movable track, which will prevent them from binding and permit the door to slide freely. However, by making the races 20 at the ends of the movable track in the form of grooves in which the balls can have no free lateral movement, any bodily prevented, which will prevent any rattling of the door. It is evident from Fig. 3, that the curved races 20 are relatively short in length, as for example, of only suflicient length to have two of the balls engaging its surface at the same time. No perceptible binding action of the balls in the grooves or races is then apparent for the reason that the deviations in the groove or race of the fixed track from a perfectly straight path, which are most frequently due to slight bending of the track, will be gradual and not confined to a short section of the track.

tion by a spacer which'is constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and cOnsists of a plurality of separate sections, only two of which parts are pivotally connected together, as by a link 28. Each of, the sections 26 and 27 consists of two strips of material which are secured together-by rivets 29, and provided with openings surrounded by upbent ears or lugs 30, which engage the balls and hold, them in place. Openings 31 are also provided in both halves of the spacer, which openings are adapted to receive pads 32, which are of felt or other suitable material. These pads contact with the races of both tracks and are preferably saturated with a lubricating fluid to maintain the tracks clean and lubricated.

In Fig. 7, a construction similar to Fig. 2 is disclosed, with the exception that in this form the guide roller 25 is omitted.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 9, the movable track 16 has a flat ball race 35 which extends the entire length of the movable track instead of being curved downwardly at the ends, as in the preferred emwhich are shown, and designated 26 and 27, v

bodiment of the invention. Lateral move- I able track and is adapted to engage the inner faces of the side pieces 11 and 12 of the fixed track. In the modified construction shown in Fig. 10, a fixed track 38- is provided, which consists of a flat vertical strip adapted to be secured to the frame above the door. Ex tending laterally from the upper end .of this flat strip is a V-shaped ledge 39 providing a similar shaped groove or race upon which the balls 15 roll. A movable track 40, which is utilized with this type of fixed track, is substantially U-shaped in cross section, and has its end portions bent down, as at 41, to provide a flat intermediate race and grooved end races for the balls the function of the Hat and grooved races being similar to that described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention. To prevent the movable track from lifting, a cylindrical roller 42 is provided which bears against the apex of the V-shaped flange 39 of the fixed track. A cover plate 44 for the fixed and movable tracks may be used with this type of construction, to prevent dust and dirt from settling upon the fixed or movable track and the anti-friction balls interposed therebetween.

The construction shown in Fig. 12 is similar to the construction shown in Fig. 10,

with the exception that instead of a cylinflange of'the fixed track and will serve not only to prevent the movable track from lifting but will also prevent its bodily-lateral movement. With this type of roller, the

therefore. be flat for-its entire length instead of being bent over at its ends, to provide upper trac grooved races of short length, as in the preferred embodiment of my invention.

The modification ,disclosed in Fig. 11 has a fixed track 46 provided with a downwardly extending flange 47 at the outer end of its horizontal section, which is grooved to provide a ball race 48. A grooved roller 49, which is carried by "the movable track,

engages the sides of the flange 4'1 to prevent lateral movement of the movable track as well as-to prevent this track from'lifting. In this form, as in the form shown in Fig. 12 the flat race formed upon .the may extend the entire length thereof. Y

The door is suspended from the movable track by means of the hanger construction shown most clearly in Figs. '3, 6 and 7. The hanger piece 50, which is stamped from sheet metal, is rovided at each end with a'pai-r of space lugs or ears 51, which engage both -faces'ofthe movable track to which they are secured by rivets 52. The

movable track is'slotted, as at 53, intermediate the pair of ears 51' and just below this slotted portion ,the hanger strip is stamped to provide a substantially circular cup-shaped seat 54. x

The cup-shaped seat 54: has one of its sides slotted, as at 55., A hanger bolt 56 has its threaded end screwed into a metallic strip 57 carried by the top of the sliding 'door l, and has its head 58 fitting into the cup-shaped part 54 of the hanger strip,the

bottom of the cup-shaped part being slotted as at 59, for this purpose.

The head 58 is rotatable within the cup-shaped part 54; and has intersecting cylindrical passages or holes 60 formed therein, which holes are adapted to receive a nail or other device for turning the hanger bolt. The hanger bolt 56 carries a nut 61, which forces a'washer 62'up against the bottom of the hanger strip. This washer is provided with an upturned ear or projection 63, which projection engages one of the sides of the bolt to prevent it from turning (see Fig'. 6). The advantage of the hanger construction described is that it permits the height of the door to be adjusted after the hanger bolts have been positioned within the hanger strips,for by unloosening the nut 61 the washer 62 may be dropped and the height of the door adjusted by turning the bolt 56, as. described, after which the nut 61 may again bev tightened, which will force the flange or projection 63- of the washer a ainst one of the faces of the bolt head an prevent a further rotation of the same.

I claim:

1. In a door hanger, a fixed track and a movable track having raceways formed therein, anti-friction devices in rolling'contact with said raceways, one of said raceways being of a width to prevent lateral movement of said devices and the other of said raceways bein of a width to permit lateral movement 0 said devices, and means for preventing bodily lateral movement of said movable track upon lateral movement of said devices.

2. In'a door hanger, a fixed track and a movable track having raceways formed therein, balls in rolling contact with saidraceways, one of said raceways consisting of a groove of similar curvature to the balls and the other of said raceways having a flat surface with which said balls contact,

and means for preventing bodily lateral movement of said movable track when said balls move laterally on said flattened race- #5 and means for preventing lateral movement of the movable track.

4. In a door hanger, a fixed track and a movable track having raceways formed therein, balls in rolling contactwith said raceways, the raceway on said fixed track consisting of a groove of the same curvature as the balls, and-the raceway on said movable track having a surface upon which said balls are free to move laterally, and means for preventing 'lateral movement of the movable track.

5. In a door hanger, a fixed track and a movable track having raceways formed thereon, balls in rolling contact with said raceways, the raceway in said fixed track consisting of a groove of the same curvature movement of said devices and the other of i said raceways bein .of a width to permit lateral movement 0 said devices, means for preventing bodily lateral movement of said movable track upon lateral movement of said devices, and a flexible spacer for said anti-friction devices.

7. In a door hanger, a fixed track and a movable track having raceways formed therein, balls in rolling contact with said said movable track when said balls move laterally onsaid flattened raceway, and a flexible spacer for said balls.

8. In a door hanger, afixed track and a movable track having raceways formed therein, balls in rolling contact with said raceways, the raceways on said fixed track consisting of a groove of the same curvature as the balls, and the raceway on said movable track having a flattened surface upon which said balls are free to move laterally, means for preventing lateral movement of the movable track, anda flexible spacer for said balls.

9. In a door hanger, a fixed track and a movable track having raceways formed therein, balls in rolling contact with said raceways, the raceway on said fixed track consisting of a'groove of the same curvature as the balls, and the raceway on said movable track having a surface upon which said balls are free to move laterally, means for preventing lateral movement of the movable track, and a flexible spacer for said balls.

10. In a door hangergra fixed track and a movable track having raceways formed thereon, balls in rolling contact with said raceways, the raceway in said fixed track consisting of a groove of the same curvature as the balls, and the raceway in said movable track having a flattened intermediate portion and end grooves of the same curvature as the balls, and a flexible spacer for said balls.

11. A spacer for door hanger constructions comprising a plurality of sections pivotally connected together, said sections having openings therein adapted to receive the anti-friction devices.

12. A spacer for door hanger constructions comprising a plurality of sections having flexible connections therebetween, said sections having openings therein adapted to receive the anti-friction devices.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR O. RIXSON.

Witnesses:

-G'EORGE PARIOT, C. J. FALARDEAU.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

